XLVII Coverage

BALTIMORE (WJZ)— They’re usually transporting prisoners, serving subpoenas and collecting fines. These days they’re also showing their purple pride.

Ron Matz has more on some city employees who are true Raven maniacs.

It’s usually quiet in the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office until it turns into Ravens country.

“We have been participating in purple Fridays, which is unusual for the sheriff’s office. We allow our civilians to wear their purple. We have huge Ravens fans here. I’m a season ticket holder and have been rooting on the Ravens for years,” said Capt Therman Reed, Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office.

When the Ravens beat New England, the office won a friendly wager with a Massachusetts sheriff: crab soup against clam chowder, and now the chowder is coming to Baltimore.

“We love the Ravens. When we won this wager with the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office in Medford, Mass, I called him as soon as the game was over. I said, ‘It’s pay up time,’” said Lt. Carla Lightsey, Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office. “The sheriff there wanted to make a friendly wager with our Sheriff John W. Anderson. They said they wanted crab soup if the Patriots win. We said if we win you owe us some clam chowder.”

The clam chowder has been donated to the House of Ruth.

“It’s so wonderful the sheriff’s office continues to support the House of Ruth,” said Sandy Timmins, executive director of House of Ruth. “Not only does it bring attention to the House of Ruth and the work that we do, the women and children who are in our emergency shelter will have a wonderful meal.”

The Ray Lewis dance is a big favorite here, and the Ravens shrine is lit up in purple.

“I put together a Ravens shrine here. I’ve got the banner from the last Super Bowl and expect to get another one. I think we’re going to do it. Ray is going to do it up right for his last dance,” said Major Earline Ward, chief of security.

And the sheriff says a Ravens Super Bowl victory is a lock.

Employees in the sheriff’s office are permitted to wear their Ravens gear every purple Friday.